CASEY AND DEREK ON THE ICE

A “Casey at the Bat” for the hockey fan. Using the classic sports poem as a template, Sederman tells a contemporary nail-biter. There’s only a minute left to play in the big game between the Rockets and the Titans, with the Rockets trailing by one. Sitting on the bench, Derek and his brother Casey know that they can secure at least a tie for the Rockets. When the Titans unexpectedly call a time-out, Coach uses the opportunity to put the brothers in and change the game plan. Derek speeds down the side of the rink to take a shot; at the crucial moment, a Titan crashes into him. It means a penalty shot for the Rockets, a chance to tie the game. But Derek is too injured to take it; Casey swoops in to secure the tie. And in a tense overtime... Tight rhythms keep the story buoyant. Pullen’s oil paintings aptly complement the larger-than-life plot, the characters’ earnest faces canvasses for their emotions as they give the game their all. (Picture book. 5-9)